Tribological Synergy of Filler Components in Multifunctional Polyimide Coatings

Abstract

Platelets as fillers in polymer coatings contribute to corrosion resistance by increasing the diffusion path of gases. The authors demonstrate that the same platelets can improve tribological properties and, thus, open a new way to design multifunctional polymer coatings. Improved corrosion resistance, low friction, and low wear are reported for polyimide composite coatings filled with a combination of boron nitride, pigment platelets, perfluoropolyether, and Si3N4 particles. Contributions of different fillers to the tribological performance are explored for coatings with different filling protocols. The synergy of four components leads to the excellent tribological performance of the fully formulated coatings, while they cannot impart significant improvement in friction and wear when used separately.